American Ginseng in Illinois Species and Regulatory Information Pocket Guide Conservation

State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources Photo credit: Gary Kauffman American ginseng in Illinois Species and regulatory information pocket guide Conservation American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius L.) is an understory plant found in the eastern deciduous forests throughout the U.S. and Canada. It is valued for its me - dicinal qualities, particularly in the Asian markets and international trade is regu - lated due to concerns about its decrease in abundance due to over harvesting. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service monitors annual harvest in Illinois and the other 18 states where ginseng collection is permitted to ensure that continued harvest and export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species. For enforcement questions, or to report suspected poaching, contact your local conservation officer at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LawEnforcement. Illinois regulatory considerations • A ginseng harvester’s license is required, and the license must be in the harvester’s possession when they collect or sell wild ginseng. • The harvest season for wild ginseng is from the first Saturday in September to November 1. • A ginseng dealer’s license is required for anyone who buys ginseng grown or harvested in Illinois. Dealers may purchase ginseng from two weeks after the harvesting period begins through March 1. • State law requires all harvested plants to be 10 years old (4-leaved), or older. • The rhizome (root neck) must be attached to the root for inspection. • Ginseng may not be harvested on state land in Illinois, nor in the Shawnee National Forest or Midewin Tall Grass Prairie. • Ginseng may not leave the state without inspection and official certification by the IDNR. Identification 4-leaved ginseng in fruit American ginseng (Panax quinquefolis) grows from a fleshy, often forked taproot which is harvested for its medicinal value. At maturity it has a single whorl (growing from the same point on the stem) Photo credit: Sally Weeks of 3-5 palmately com - pound leaves each with 3-5 toothed leaflets. The leaves are widest just before they reach the abruptly pointed tip, and have small unbranched hairs along the major veins of the leaves. A central cluster of small greenish flowers rises above the leaves, becoming visible mid-June through July, and produces bright red berry-like fruits at maturity (early to mid-September). Ginseng is most commonly confused with 5-leaved, vining Virginia creeper, shown here growing together. Photo credit: Sally Weeks Where does ginseng grow? American ginseng is found in rich hardwoods, often on north-facing slopes or in ravines, and in wooded dune hollows and leeward slopes along Lake Michigan. Photo credit: Shawna Meyer Commonly associated species Sugar maple Rattlesnake fern Basswood Gooseberry Red and white oak Jack-in-the-pulpit Tulip poplar False Solomon’s seal Categories of ginseng Wild ginseng is the root of the ginseng plant which is R growing in or has been col - lected from its native habitat. E Wild harvested roots are T generally small with a longer neck, often forked, darker in color, and show A concentrated growth rings. I Wild simulated ginseng is grown in forested L conditions from seed stock with no cultivation of the plants. The appearance of simulated V wild roots is virtually indistinguishable from wild ginseng. Wild simulated is regulated as A wild ginseng in Illinois. L Cultivated ginseng is ginseng grown either in beds under artificial shade or under natural U forest shade. Cultivated roots are cream colored, large and heavy with a shorter neck, E and often shaped like a carrot. How to age ginseng roots Ginseng is a long-lived perennial whose root mass increases each year; the above-ground stem dies back with the onset of winter frost. A leaf scar is added each year on the vertical rhizome (also called the root neck), which sits underground on top of the main root. By counting these scars, the approximate age of the plant can be determined. Average Annual Reported Ginseng Harvest by County (lb/yr) None reported 1 – 90 91 – 180 181 – 360 Source: Chamberlain et al. 2013 Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois DNR 91 • 00M • 04/16 • IOCI 0527-16 .

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